Identifying scrolls and potions

[Axly Suregrip]

Originally Posted by JohnPaulB

You are assuming that a wizard that creates a scroll would not write on the outside top of the scroll what it is. Because if he has a dozen spell scrolls, he has to identify which ones he wants to bring along.

This goes for potions too. Label the bottle!

Of course, this ID could be in code:

• a foreign language
• abbreviations
• color codes (blue is for water spells)
• etc.

I totally agree with this. I can imagine a Town Wizard running a shoppe with a pile of scrolls his written over the past years. You know he has to mark them to ID them at the very least. Same for potions. Would seem to me that an unlabeled scroll or potion would be the exception.

[hcobb]

Hand the scroll to a non-wizard scribe to copy by hand.

As non-wizards can never activate scrolls he'll be safe.

[phiwum]

Originally Posted by JohnPaulB

You are assuming that a wizard that creates a scroll would not write on the outside top of the scroll what it is. Because if he has a dozen spell scrolls, he has to identify which ones he wants to bring along.

That's a very good point.

[Kieddicus]

Originally Posted by Axly Suregrip

I'd say the scribe also has to make a save to not accidentally reading the scroll. And really it should be harder than just glancing at the scroll.

To my understanding you don't actually have to see the text to duplicate it.
So there'd be no reason to make the saving roll. Which is probably why RAW doesn't let you do this.

Originally Posted by hcobb

Hand the scroll to a non-wizard scribe to copy by hand.

As non-wizards can never activate scrolls he'll be safe.

Scrolls can't even be read by non-wizards, so this wouldn't work. Unless of course you let non-wizards use scrolls, but in that case you run the same risk as before.

[hcobb]

Are scrolls written in invisible magic ink?

[Kieddicus]

Originally Posted by hcobb

Are scrolls written in invisible magic ink?

Don't know, but the rules state non-wizards can't read scrolls. I of course ignore this as I see the point of scrolls is to allow non-wizards to cast spells.

[Axly Suregrip]

Okay I missed this. "Duplicate Writing" is a spell. I thought you were talking about a scribe physically copying the scroll.

As far as the Duplicate Writing spell goes, it states, "...but can not copy a spell scroll!" ITL pg 27. I did not add the exclamation.

And ITL pg 141, "Only a wizard may attempt to read a magic scroll."

As far as a wizard scribe trying to copy the scroll goes, I still believe he may cast the spell and needs to make a save.

As far as a non-wizard scribe trying to copy the scroll to a non-scroll parchment which may then safely be read by a wizard to determine the scroll's spell: I'd say this is a loophole that is the GM's call to allow or not. Personally I would not allow it. It easily defeats the whole purpose of having wizards needing to check saving rolls. I also won't have much need for it as most scrolls will be marked on their protected sleeve in some language.